CVE-2026-72012

Local kernel code execution via tracer teardown race

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Kernel use-after-free in tracing/osnoise allows local users with tracefs write access to execute code or crash the system. osnoise_unregister_instance() releases the trace_array reference without first waiting for RCU readers, so concurrent timerlat or osnoise readers dereference freed kernel memory. Exploitation requires enabling a tracer and deleting its trace instance through writable tracefs; the race can disclose or corrupt kernel memory, hang the host, or trigger a kernel panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel use-after-free in tracing/osnoise allows local users with tracefs write access to execute code or crash the system. osnoise_unregister_instance() releases the trace_array reference without first waiting for RCU readers, so concurrent timerlat or osnoise readers dereference freed kernel memory. Exploitation requires enabling a tracer and deleting its trace instance through writable tracefs; the race can disclose or corrupt kernel memory, hang the host, or trigger a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72012
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.17
  2. Affected versionversion=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <38366140dc8ee3568c7f0191d517e117963bd580
  3. Affected versionversion=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <3c693635bb7b3a9b6645831a84fed2af46cdf249
  4. Affected versionversion=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <dd0160a0842337f12e7694d68b184050afc6d3a4
  5. Affected versionversion=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <fad36954b29592ce463254179c3043697678481f
  6. Affected versionversion=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <fe58f457ad8d0a2bef4e053cfecca4b5cd266b1a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.17; version=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <38366140dc8ee3568c7f0191d517e117963bd580; version=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <3c693635bb7b3a9b6645831a84fed2af46cdf249; version=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <dd0160a0842337f12e7694d68b184050afc6d3a4; version=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <fad36954b29592ce463254179c3043697678481f; version=a6ed2aee54644cfa2d04ca86308767f5c3a087e8 <fe58f457ad8d0a2bef4e053cfecca4b5cd266b1a

Published CVSS scores

5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-825Expired Pointer Dereference
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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